Clayton Kershaw reportedly agrees to to 7-year, $215 million deal with Dodgers

Starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw has reportedly agreed to a seven-year deal worth $215 million with the Dodgers, which would be the biggest baseball contract in regards to average salary. (Keith Birmingham/Staff Photographer)

Dodgers dollars

Biggest contracts

Clayton Kershaw has reportedly agreed to a seven-year contract that will pay him $215 million with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The 25-year-old left-hander, who is coming off his second Cy Young Award-winning season, is viewed by many as the best pitcher in the game. And now he will be the highest-paid pitcher in the game.

Here are, based on total value, the top 10 most lucrative contracts in baseball history. Kershaw, who ranks sixth, is the only pitcher on that list.

Of those 10 contracts, two have expired while the other eight were all signed since 2008.

The 10 most lucrative contracts in baseball history, by total value:

• Alex Rodriguez, N.Y. Yankees, $275 million (2008-17)

• Alex Rodriguez, Texas Rangers, $252 million (2001-10)

• Albert Pujols, L.A. Angels, $240 million (2012-21)

• Robinson Cano, Seattle Mariners, $240 million (2014-23)

• Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds, $225 million (2014-23)

• Clayton Kershaw, L.A. Dodgers, $215 million (2014-20)

• Prince Fielder, Detroit Tigers, $214 million (2012-20)

• Derek Jeter, N.Y. Yankees, $189 million (2001-10)

• Joe Mauer, Minnesota Twins, $184 million (2011-18)

• Mark Teixeira, N.Y. Yankees, $180 million (2009-16)

Biggest seasons

Clayton Kershaw has reportedly agreed to a seven-year contract that will pay him $215 million with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The 25-year-old left-hander, who is coming off his second Cy Young Award-winning season, is viewed by many as the best pitcher in the game. And now he will not only be the highest-paid pitcher in the game, but when averaging out his deal, he will be the top-paid player per season.

Here are, based on average annual value, the top 10 highest-paid players in baseball history. Kershaw is one of six pitchers on the list.

Of those 10 contracts, seven were signed in the past two years. Only two have expired, including Roger Clemens’ pro-rated deal in which he signed with the New York Yankees in May 2007 and, over the life of the contract, made $18.7 million

The 10 highest-paid players in baseball history, by average annual value:

• Clayton Kershaw, L.A. Dodgers, $30.7 million (2014-20)

• Roger Clemens, N.Y. Yankees, $28 million (2007, pro-rated)

• Alex Rodriguez, N.Y. Yankees, $27.5 million (2008-17)

• Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers, $25.7 million (2013-19)

• Alex Rodriguez, Texas/Yankees, $25,200,000 (2001-10)

• Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies, $25 million (2012-16)

• Josh Hamilton, L.A. Angels, $25 million (2013-17)

• Felix Hernandez, Seattle Mariners, $25 million (2013-19)

• Zack Greinke, L.A. Dodgers, $24.5 million (2013-18)

• CC Sabathia, N.Y. Yankees, $24.4 million (2012-16)

The Dodgers and pitcher Clayton Kershaw agreed to a new contract Wednesday that will reportedly pay the 25-year-old pitcher $215 million over the next seven years. Kershaw could opt out of the contract after five years in 2018, according to multiple reports.

The $30.7 million average annual value of the contract would be the highest in baseball history. The previous record was $28 million, which the Yankees paid right-handed pitcher Roger Clemens in 2007. In terms of total value, a $215 million contract is the sixth-largest of all time.

Kershaw, who was set to become a free agent at the end of the season, made $11.25 million in 2013, when he won his second National League Cy Young Award in three seasons.

“Big winner today......me,” wrote Ellis. “I am blessed to catch best in the game for foreseeable future God willing. Congrats Kersh!”

Added Kemp: “Congrats 2 the best pitcher in baseball and great teammate @ClaytonKersh22 on his deal!”

According to Jon Heyman of CBSsports.com, Kershaw will earn $22 million in 2014, $30 million in 2015, $32 million in 2016, $33 million in 2017 and 2018, $32 million in 2019 and $33 million in 2020. If he opts out of the final two years of the contract, Kershaw would potentially leave $55 million on the table.

Re-signing Kershaw was the Dodgers’ highest priority, because they did not want to bid against 29 teams to retain arguably the game’s best pitcher next winter.

At 25, Kershaw already has two Cy Young awards and three straight earned-run average titles. His 16 wins and 1.83 ERA last year were both team highs. In advanced metrics, Kershaw’s 194 ERA-plus was the best in the majors and the best by a pitcher in franchise history.

The Dodgers had reportedly offered Kershaw more money over a longer term, up to 10 years. This contract appears to be a compromise of sorts: Kershaw can seek another contract in 2018, when only Kemp, pitcher Zack Greinke and first baseman Adrian Gonzalez would still be under contract to the Dodgers. He could also become the longest-tenured Dodger by staying until the contract expires in 2020.

Kershaw was an 18-year-old in high school when the Dodgers selected him in the first round, seventh overall, in the 2006 amateur draft. The left-hander reached the majors two years later and has since gone 77-46 with a 2.60 ERA.

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In addition to his mastery on the mound, Kershaw has donated extensive time and money to his own foundation, Kershaw’s Challenge. The charity has raised money to build an orphanage and a classroom for children in Zambia, and benefited nonprofits in Los Angeles and Kershaw’s hometown of Dallas.

The Dodgers were already responsible for approximately $207 million in player contracts for the 2014 season. Kershaw’s contract will easily push the Dodgers’ payroll to a new team record in the neighborhood of $240 million. The Associated Press reported that the Dodgers spent $236.9 million on payroll — as computed by baseball’s luxury-tax formula — in 2013.

The Dodgers still have to re-sign Ellis and closer Kenley Jansen, who are eligible for arbitration.

Starting pitching was the Dodgers’ strong suit as they won the National League West and advanced to the NL Championship Series in 2013. The rotation posted an MLB-best 3.13 earned-run average, but that figure would have been 3.52 without Kershaw.

The Dodgers have also been in talks with the agent for Japanese right-hander Masahiro Tanaka, widely considered the best pitcher on the free-agent market. Teams who paid a $20 million posting fee to negotiate with Tanaka have until Jan. 24 to finalize a contract. Tanaka went 24-0 in Japan’s top league last year, leading the Rakuten Golden Eagles to a championship.

Casey Close of Excel Sports Management represents both Kershaw and Tanaka. The New York Yankees are also reportedly on Tanaka’s short list.

Re-signing shortstop Hanley Ramirez is also a priority. The Dodgers have already begun negotiating with the agent for the 30-year-old Ramirez, who is set to become a free agent at the end of the season.